Anthracite coal was once a major contributor for heating homes and businesses. Its contribution began to slump in the late 1950s when burning oil became more popular and later natural gas. Since the demand for the coal became less, coal miner owners began to overlook government safety regulations in order to turn a profit.
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Mine Disaster
On January 22, 1959, in Port Griffith, Pennsylvania, eighty-one miners descended into the east bank of the Susquehanna River. Seventy-five miners headed to the May shaft while six others made their way to the River Slope Mine. The miners’ goal for the day, as it was for every workday, was to quarry enough coal in order for the mine owners to turn a profit.
The mine, located beneath the Susquehanna River, had “stop lines” drawn in order for the miners to know where to stop quarrying. The United States government at a minimum of 35 feet from the riverbed regulated the “stop lines”. The regulation was set in order to keep the wall from collapsing due to the river’s water pressure.
As the miners pressed forward, quarrying the coal, the company’s owner encouraged them to quarry beyond the 35-foot limit. The miners came within six feet of the riverbed wall. The wall now weakened and could no longer hold back the river from flooding the tunnel. As water broke through the wall, surviving miners described the rush as a “popping” sound and ran for their lives. Several miners found their way out of the mine through chest high water, while others remained trapped.
Plan to Rescue Trapped Miners
A large whirlpool was formed due to the water rushing into the hole. The rescuers knew they had to figure out a way to fill the hole and stop the water from rushing into the mine, so they began to throw coal hopper cars into the hole. After 60 cars the water still did not stop, so the rescuers decided to approximately 400 one-ton coal cars as well as dirt, rock, and boulders. Eventually the water stopped flowing into the mine and all but twelve men survived the disaster.
Mine Owners Arrested and Held Accountable
The events that took place on that cold winter day did not have to happen, but because of greed, men lost their lives leaving behind family and friends.
The Knox Coal Company owners were brought to trial and found guilty for involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy. However, the guilty verdicts were overturned and only three actually did jail time.
The Knox Coal Mine disaster revealed corruption that was taking place amongst the United Mine Workers officials, mine management, and those with mafia connections. A family member of one of the victims lost in the disaster refers to the event as the Knox Mine Murders.
Amadeo Pancetti, one of the surviving miners, was awarded the Carnegie Medal for seeing that 32 miners made it safely out of the mine.
Sources:
Wolensky, Robert P., Kenneth C. Wolensky, and Nicole H. Wolensky. The Knox Mine Disaster: January 22, 1959: The Final Years of the Northern Anthracite Industry and the Effort to Rebuild a Regional Economy. Harrisburg, Pa.: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1999.
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